Rail traffic hit following agitation over biker’s death at unmanned crossing in Odisha

All trains between Khurda Road and Howrah have been detained enroute following a rail roko agitation by local people at Bairi in Odisha’s Jajpur district following the death of a biker who was trying to cross the tracks at an unmanned crossing around 10 am today, reports said.

Railway sources said the man was warned against crossing the tracks by a ‘gate mitra’, who was guarding the point, because a train was approaching. However, he chose to ignore it and got hit by a passing train.

Angry local people then occupied the tracks demanding a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the deceased’s kin and immediate construction of a gate at the crossing.

Railwy sources said the officials assured the agitators that a gate will be erected at the crossing point within 15 days but could not make any commitment on payment of compensation because the accident occurred at an unauthorised crossing.

The standoff is yet to be resolved and as a result the rail traffic along the Howrah-Khurda Road route has been completely paralysed.

Thousands of passengers have been stranded either in the trains or at various stations along the route, reports said,